Almost Annual Crappie Derby Draws Thousands

The Almost Annual Crappie Derby ice fishing tournament brought thousands to Whitney Point Lake on Saturday. The tournament had not been held since 2011 due to the ice not being thick enough the past two years, but with 16 inches of ice on Saturday, 2,000 anglers were in attendance. Some even arrived the day before to save their spot on the four-mile long lake. Those competing had the ability to win money for the biggest catch every fifteen minutes, with the winner of the derby itself taking home $1,000. The derby was sponsored by the Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Whitney Point Sportsman Association.